Light novel ban? Like that would harm anything to them...Oh no! He heard them! (What did he hear?)
If he were in my highschool a decade ago, arrogant kids like this dude would end up in a dumpster with broken arms and bruised face...Maybe it's just me, but I want this guy to pull something stupid and MC just drops his ass. Like, super bad ass KO, but busts his hand and needs FMC to take care of him.
Did she say she drank black coffee to calm herself down?!
There is the possibility, that she will not accept the MC's explanation, but will connect his immense focus on studying with this bet. In this case the outcome could be that she either see it as romantic, and they get closer, or she will see it as creepy.My guess is he's going to try to self destruct and take MC down with him by telling her all about how she was a trophy for a competition between them.
But I think MC has earned his good will to dispute it easily and dismiss the whole claim. The power of being consistent and nice buys you a lot of benefit of the doubt from your friends when someone tries to drag you down. Positive karma, you could say.